Search - The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Series on DVD

"There's a shame in this world"

mwreview | Northern California, USA | 06/02/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Well, one good thing is that if you are angry because you bought the individual season DVD sets (like I did) and wished you waited to buy the complete series box set for the extras and corrections, you need not sweat it. The missing epilogue and minutes to "The Darlings Are Coming" and the missing epilogue to "Barney Mends a Broken Heart" from season 3 were not restored to this set. The laugh tracks to a few episodes from season 4 have been restored, but that wasn't a big deal to me.

The "extra extras" you get from this series box set are available individually elsewhere if you look around. The pilot "Danny Meets Andy Griffith" is available edited on the "Make Room for Daddy" 5th season DVD set. The pilot included here is also edited. You can also find "Return to Mayberry" on DVD online and the other bonus is the episode "Opie Joins the Marines" where Opie visits Gomer on "Gomer Pyle USMC," which will be released in that series' second season set in a few months. I wish Paramount could have gathered some behind-the-scenes stuff or commentaries or interviews (the actors are not getting any younger and in just the past few years, many important TAGS people have died like Howard Morris and Don Knotts). That would have made this set worth it, but nothing like that is included.

What bugs me the most, though, is the crummy packaging: Cardboard folders and pockets with cut-out photos on the characters printed on it. At least make it the same as the individual sets with the plastic, easy-to-use holders and the bold and colorful illustrations. It's a great series, I love the shows (even the color episodes), but if you have already bought the seasons and are wondering if the series set is worth it, I would vote, 'no.' In fact, if you haven't bought anything from this series yet, I would still choose the indivdual seasons to this set."

Only purchase if you don't already have some or all of this

RowMan | Torrance, CA United States | 04/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you waited until now to purchase any of the Andy Griffith Show season sets, this is a decent deal. For those who already have one or more seasons, the new extras in this new all-season set are no big whoop and in my opinion is not worth purchasing.

The pilot episode included in this set is a syndicated version which is edited by about 2 and a half minutes. This is the same version already available on the Make Room For Daddy - The Complete Fifth Season DVD set. The full length pilot had been released on VHS, but has been out-of-print for a few years now. Why couldn't Paramount include the full length version? We know it exists.

The two edited episodes in Season 3 remain edited. "The Darlings Are Coming" is the heavily cut syndicated version. "Barney Mends A Broken Heart" is still missing its epilogue. Source material does exist that would restore these episodes.

The episodes on discs 1 and 2 of Season 4 that were missing the laugh tracks have been corrected (with the odd exception of the last few minutes of "A Black Day For Mayberry" and "The Sermon For Today", where the laughter has still not been re-inserted), but this was done way before this new box set was ever announced. If you have these discs without the laugh tracks, I believe Paramount is still replacing them with the corrected ones. See my review of Season 4 for more details.

The "Opie Joins The Marines" episode of Gomer Pyle, USMC has been included. However, this will be released anyway when Season 2 of that series rolls around in a few months.

The TV movie, "Return To Mayberry" finally makes it's way to DVD as a bonus feature in this set. It is uncut and presented just as originally broadcast in 1986. Hopefully it will be released as a separate disc for those who already have some or all of this series.

Without even going into the packaging issues, this new box set is already somewhat of a disappointment. If you can afford it, stick with the individually released seasons."

A great price for a great show

Richard Kaplan | Bloomsburg, Pa United States | 03/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have all eight seasons of "The Andy Griffith Show" and the only thing missing is what they are offering here..the pilot episode featured on Danny Thomas show and the 1986 reunion movie "Return to Mayberry".

Unlike the Mash medicine and martinis collection, which upset many folks who bought the individual seasons and did not receive any extras with them,there aren't too many extras in this complete set. I already have the pilot episode on the "Make Room for Daddy" five DVD set which came out in 2004 and I would like to have the movie, but maybe they will offer that seperatly.

What can be said that hasn't been said about one of the most beloved series of all time? Most people will love the first five seasons in black and white that featured Don Knotts, but all of the seasons have their appeal.

If you don't have the entire series, or just a couple of seasons, this set will be worth it. The price is nice, just like the Mash Martinis and medicine collection was before it went sky high."

Movies a hit but the dvd holders are poor

Ryanne | USA | 07/22/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I agree with previous reviewers about the holders the dvds come in, they are terrible. Since Amazon lowered the price of the set I figured I could purchase my own case for them, which I did. We all enjoy the shows."